Malawi's Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and 9 other people were confirmed dead when a plane they were travelling in crashed in the Chikangawa mountain range after it took off from the country's capital Lilongwe.

Dr Chilima, 51, was on his way to represent the government at the burial of former government minister Ralph Kasambara, who died four days ago.

According to reports, Former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri was also on the flight, which took off from the capital, Lilongwe yesterday. President Lazarus Chakwera declared Tuesday a national day of mourning and it is not clear whether Chilima's wife Mary had also been on the plane when it crashed.

In a statement released today, the Office of the President and Cabinet confirmed the death of Vice President and other 9 people he had in a plane.